INTHEBLACK May 2025 - Magazine - Page 17
TOM'S TOP FIVE CSIRO INNOVATIONS
“CSIRO’s legacy is woven into everyday life in Australia. Its contributions cover
a wide spectrum and it's hard to choose favourites, but here are five inventions
that stand out.
1. Wi-fi: In the 1990s, CSIRO
researchers developed technology
known as the patented wireless local
area network (WLAN). This technology
underpins modern wi-fi, allowing for
wireless internet connectivity. It’s one
of Australia's most notable innovations
on the global stage.
2. Improving the sustainability
of agriculture: We’ve seen
tremendous developments in
alternative meats and using food
waste to create valuable products.
CSIRO has been heavily involved in
the development of companies such
as v2food and Eden Brew, which are
essential in maintaining and growing
the sustainability of Australia’s
agricultural industry.
3. Extended-wear contact lenses:
In the 1970s, CSIRO worked on
In 2015, Munyard took the opportunity
to join CSIRO and in 2017 became chief
finance officer. It was a move that allowed
him to step into his current role as COO
with a 360-degree view of the organisation.
“As CFO, I led an amazing team of finance
professionals and people who were passionate
about the organisation and worked closely
with our research units.
“Being able to represent them in my
executive team and in board meetings gave
me a fantastic insight into what makes
the organisation run. It helped me
to understand how our research areas
operate and how to support them,” he says.
INVESTING IN THE FUTURE
Operating at the cutting edge of research
means navigating a landscape that is
in constant flux. For CSIRO, managing
a future vision while responding to the
rapid pace of scientific discovery is part
of the day-to-day.
innovations in contact-lens
technology. The research led
to the development of soft contact
lenses that could be worn for extended
periods and even overnight.
4. Vaccines: CSIRO has been
instrumental in developing vaccines
for infectious diseases including
Hendra virus, COVID-19 and lumpy
skin disease.
5. Digital health: We have worked
on some incredibly innovative
projects, including AI, cyber security,
robotics and quantum technologies.
Through our digital health program,
we’re exploring how digital products
can improve health outcomes. In cyber
security, we’re focused on protecting
our national assets, ensuring
resilience and safety in an increasingly
digital world.”
“It’s an ongoing challenge for us,”
says Munyard. “While we are focused
on the long-term, science and research
can evolve incredibly fast. We have
to establish processes that foster
innovation without disrupting the
organisation’s impact.”
Currently, CSIRO is focused on
addressing some of Australia’s most critical
challenges: ensuring food security and
quality, advancing sustainable energy
and resource management, and fostering
the next wave of industry innovation.
Munyard points to the urgency of these
issues, particularly food security, which
is expected to escalate globally in
the coming years.
“Looking ahead, it’s clear that food security
will become a global challenge. This is where
our high-performance computing capabilities
play a critical role. By analysing years of data,
we can make informed predictions about
future trends,” he says.
READ
an article on the
economic upside
of reducing global
food waste
LISTEN
to a podcast
episode about
using a systematic
approach for
innovation
UPSKILL
With CPA Australia
and Harvard
Business Publishing’s
Innovation and
Creativity course.
intheblack.cpaaustralia.com.au 17
